The Walton Property, Part 2: Walmere Farm
- Yen Ho
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Back in November 2024, I received an email from a local resident who asked me about another property owned by Eber Walton in Whitpain Township. When I wrote my piece on the Farview Farm, I only talked about this farm, not the one I will talk about in this post. Now that he told me there was another property owned by Eber Walton, it's time to talk about it!
Eber Walton
Eber Walton (1800-1890) was born on May 4 near Quakertown in Bucks County. His father Abraham moved his family to Beaver County, PA (some time in the late 1790s) where Eber was born. After his marriage to Anna Shaw, he moved around Pennsylvania in Bucks County and Plymouth Township until finally setting in Whitpain in 1830 where he purchased a farm that was called "Walmere" off of Walton Road. Years later he purchased another farm on Skippack Pike from "S. Freas" that was known as Farview farm.
"At that time, the house did not have front on any road, and a long lane was necessary to get to the buildings. Later the backroad was opened."
- Ambler Gazette, January 19, 1905
Fun Fact # 1: On the Walmere farm, Eber planted a tree called the Washington Pear. It was said it had the shape and color of a Katherine tree, but larger. He also planted a large orchard of fruit trees.
On the Walmere property, there was a log house and a spring house that he primarily used for storage.
Eber's sons Joseph (1825-1904) and Amos (1832-1912) were assisting him on the farm. By the time of Eber's death, his sons split their father's homestead: Joseph took over the farm on Skippack Pike while Amos took over the homestead Eber originally purchased.
Architecture
Some time in the 20th century, the home and the barn were subdivided, and no longer belong on the same lot. The barn is now a residential home, and it matched the barn in the 1941 photograph taken from the Library of Congress. From the file, the barn was built around the 18th century, specifically in 1760.
Looking behind the barn in the LOC photo is the home built by Eber Walton. The home itself is Colonial-style with two chimneys on both ends of the house and almost has a symmetrical front facade.
Bibliography
"400 Walmere Way, Blue Bell, PA 19422." Redfin. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://www.redfin.com/PA/Blue-Bell/400-Walmere-Way-19422/home/39125151.
"401 Walmere Way, Blue Bell, PA 19422." Redfin. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://www.redfin.com/PA/Blue-Bell/401-Walmere-Way-19422/home/39125144.
"Fort Washington News." Ambler Gazette. January 19, 1905. Page 8. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_2865.
Historic American Buildings Survey, Creator. Stone Barn, Walton Road, Whitpain Township, Blue Bell, Montgomery County, PA. Montgomery County Blue Bell Pennsylvania, 1933. Documentation Compiled After. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/pa0357/.
Hopkins, G.M. Atlas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Page 031, 1871.
Morris, William E, and Smith & Wistar. Map of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: from original surveys. [Philadelphia: Smith & Wistar, 1849] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012590207/.
Roberts, Ellwood. Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Containing Genealogical Records of Representative Families, Including Many of the Early Settlers and Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens, Volume 1. (New York: T.S. Benham, 1904): 149-150.
Smith, J. L. Montgomery County 1893, Whitpain and Worcester Townships, Bethel Hill, Fairview, Cedar Hill, Washington Square, Broad Axe Left, 1893.
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